Patents by Inventor Masayuki Hironaga

Masayuki Hironaga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230116594
    Abstract: A conveyer conveys a medicine container, from a storage site storing a plurality of the medicine containers each containing a medicine, to a delivery site where the medicine is removed from the medicine container, and returns, from the delivery site to the storage site, the medicine container from which the contained medicine is partially removed. A standby site where the medicine container unloaded from the storage site and directed toward the delivery site is allowed to stand by is located between the storage site and the delivery site. The medicine container containing the medicine determined not to be used for subsequent medicine preparation is returned from the standby site to the storage site. The medicine container containing the medicine determined to be used also for the subsequent medicine preparation is caused to stand by at the standby site until the subsequent medicine preparation, without being returned to the storage site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: TAKAZONO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru Fujitani, Masayuki Hironaga
  • Patent number: 9869303
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component having a first end face and a second end face, includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from the first end face to the second end face, inside of the cells being filled with working fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. Hydraulic diameter HD of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, where the hydraulic diameter HD is defined as HD=4×S/C, where S denotes a cross-sectional area of each cell perpendicular to the cell extending direction and C denotes a perimeter of the cross section, and the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Naomi Noda, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 9765760
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each including a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending between both end faces, and the plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each mutually converts heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid in the cells and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. In the heat/acoustic wave conversion component including the plurality of honeycomb segments each being monolithic configured, hydraulic diameter HD of the cells is 0.4 mm or less, open frontal area of the honeycomb segments is 60% or more and 93% or less, heat conductivity of the honeycomb segments is 5 W/mK or less, and a ratio HD/L of the hydraulic diameter HD to the length L of the honeycomb segment is 0.005 or more and less than 0.02.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa, Naomi Noda
  • Patent number: 9759157
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion unit includes a heat/acoustic wave conversion component and two heat exchangers. Hydraulic diameter HD of the cells in the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, and a ratio HD/L of HD to the length L of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is from 0.005 to 0.02. One of the heat exchangers includes a heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and an annular tube that surrounds a circumferential face of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure. The annular tube includes a structure body that is disposed in the channel to increase a contact area with the heated fluid, an inflow port into which the heated fluid flows, and an outflow port through which the heated fluid flows out. At least one of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and the structure body is made of a ceramic material that contains SiC as a main component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Tatsuo Kawaguchi, Naomi Noda, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 9759201
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells, inside of the cells being filled with fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the fluid. The plurality of cells have an average of hydraulic diameters HDs that is 0.4 mm or less in a plane perpendicular to the cell extending direction, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has an open frontal area at each end face of 60% or more and 93% or less, and distribution of hydraulic diameters HDs of the plurality of cells has relative standard deviation that is 2% or more and 30% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Miyairi, Shinichi Miwa, Naomi Noda, Yuji Deguchi, Teruyoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Hamatsuka, Hiroyuki Suenobu, Masayuki Hironaga, Kazuhiko Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 9393178
    Abstract: A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes: a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell; a bottom plate; and a bottom plate supporting member. A lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed by the bottom plate. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement. In a state where the bottom plate closes the lower opening portion, at least part of an upper surface of the bottom plate is located higher than a lower surface in a periphery of the lower opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Takazono Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Masayuki Hironaga, Yu Kageyama, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9314406
    Abstract: A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell, a bottom plate, and a bottom plate supporting member. A lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed by the bottom plate. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement. In a state where the bottom plate closes the lower opening portion, at least part of an upper surface of the bottom plate is located higher, whereas a lower surface in a periphery of the lower opening portion is located lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Takazono Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Masayuki Hironaga, Yu Kageyama, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20160084238
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each including a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending between both end faces, and the plurality of monolithic honeycomb segments each mutually converts heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid in the cells and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. In the heat/acoustic wave conversion component including the plurality of honeycomb segments each being monolithic configured, hydraulic diameter HD of the cells is 0.4 mm or less, open frontal area of the honeycomb segments is 60% or more and 93% or less, heat conductivity of the honeycomb segments is 5 W/mK or less, and a ratio HD/L of the hydraulic diameter HD to the length L of the honeycomb segment is 0.005 or more and less than 0.02.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yukio MIYAIRI, Shinichi MIWA, Yuji DEGUCHI, Teruyoshi MORI, Kazuhiko HAMATSUKA, Hiroyuki SUENOBU, Masayuki HIRONAGA, Kazuhiko KUMAZAWA, Naomi NODA
  • Publication number: 20160084198
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion unit includes a heat/acoustic wave conversion component and two heat exchangers. Hydraulic diameter HD of the cells in the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, and a ratio HD/L of HD to the length L of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is from 0.005 to 0.02. One of the heat exchangers includes a heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and an annular tube that surrounds a circumferential face of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure. The annular tube includes a structure body that is disposed in the channel to increase a contact area with the heated fluid, an inflow port into which the heated fluid flows, and an outflow port through which the heated fluid flows out. At least one of the heat-exchanging honeycomb structure and the structure body is made of a ceramic material that contains SiC as a main component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yukio MIYAIRI, Shinichi MIWA, Tatsuo KAWAGUCHI, Naomi NODA, Yuji DEGUCHI, Teruyoshi MORI, Kazuhiko HAMATSUKA, Hiroyuki SUENOBU, Masayuki HIRONAGA, Kazuhiko KUMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160084237
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component having a first end face and a second end face, includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from the first end face to the second end face, inside of the cells being filled with working fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. Hydraulic diameter HD of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, where the hydraulic diameter HD is defined as HD=4×S/C, where S denotes a cross-sectional area of each cell perpendicular to the cell extending direction and C denotes a perimeter of the cross section, and the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yukio MIYAIRI, Shinichi MIWA, Naomi NODA, Yuji DEGUCHI, Teruyoshi MORI, Kazuhiko HAMATSUKA, Hiroyuki SUENOBU, Masayuki HIRONAGA, Kazuhiko KUMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160084239
    Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells, inside of the cells being filled with fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the fluid. The plurality of cells have an average of hydraulic diameters HDs that is 0.4 mm or less in a plane perpendicular to the cell extending direction, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has an open frontal area at each end face of 60% or more and 93% or less, and distribution of hydraulic diameters HDs of the plurality of cells has relative standard deviation that is 2% or more and 30% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yukio MIYAIRI, Shinichi MIWA, Naomi NODA, Yuji DEGUCHI, Teruyoshi MORI, Kazuhiko HAMATSUKA, Hiroyuki SUENOBU, Masayuki HIRONAGA, Kazuhiko KUMAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160045397
    Abstract: A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell, a bottom plate, and a bottom plate supporting member. A lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed by the bottom plate. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement. In a state where the bottom plate closes the lower opening portion, at least part of an upper surface of the bottom plate is located higher, whereas a lower surface in a periphery of the lower opening portion is located lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Masayuki Hironaga, Yu Kageyama, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20140312052
    Abstract: A tablet supplying portion of a medicine supply apparatus includes: a tablet supplying portion body including a supply cell; a bottom plate; and a bottom plate supporting member. A second end portion of the bottom plate pivotally moves about a first end portion of the bottom plate supported by the tablet supplying portion body, whereby a lower opening portion of the supply cell is opened and closed. The bottom plate supporting member can restrict a pivotal movement of the bottom plate. The tablet supplying portion body and the bottom plate supporting member are relatively movable in a horizontal direction. The bottom plate pivotally moves between a state where the lower opening portion is blocked from opening and an opened state, along with this relative movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Masayuki Hironaga, Yu Kageyama, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7982158
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a die to be used for formation of honeycomb structure, the die having a die base having two faces, honeycomb-shaped slits 5 being formed in one face and back holes communicating with the slits 5 being formed in the other face in order to introduce a forming material thereinto, at least the slit portions of the die being made of a super had alloy, wherein slits 5 are formed by grinding or electric discharge machining, then a discharging electrode 40 having a square-shaped section is disposed near each crossing portion of slits 5, and electric discharge machining is conducted from the upper side of slit 5 toward the depth direction of slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Koishikura, Masayuki Hironaga
  • Patent number: 7858007
    Abstract: A die was provided for forming a honeycomb body having a structure provided with groovy slits on a front face thereof, the slits being formed by cell blocks and back holes on a back surface thereof, each hole being communicatively connected with the slit. The die is made of cemented carbide having wear resistance. The cemented carbide is formed by compacting, followed by sintering at high temperature, metal carbide powder of transition metal element series with an iron group metal binder having toughness. A connection area ratio of the back hole and the cell block is 35 to 65%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahisa Kaneko, Masayuki Nate, Masayuki Hironaga, Yuji Deguchi
  • Patent number: 7713050
    Abstract: A die for forming a honeycomb structure includes a die base having a first plate-like member and a second plate-like member, the first plate-like member is provided with groove portions on the side of a bonding surface between the first plate-like member and the second plate-like member, and a depth y (mm) of the groove portions satisfies: y?a·(t1×E1+t2×E2)/(t1×t2×E1×E2) where t1 is a thickness (mm) obtained by subtracting the depth (mm) of the groove portions from a thickness (mm) of the first plate-like member, E1 is an apparent volume elasticity (GPa) of the first plate-like member at 25° C. in consideration of a state in which back holes are formed, t2 is a thickness (mm) of the second plate-like member, E2 is a volume elasticity (GPa) of the second plate-like member at 25° C., and a is a coefficient determined based on conditions during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Masayuki Hironaga
  • Publication number: 20090191368
    Abstract: The present invention provides a production method that can easily and inexpensively produce a perforated honeycomb structure body while effectively preventing chipping when grinding a hole. A method of producing a perforated honeycomb structure body according to the present invention includes partially grinding an outer wall 2 and a partition wall 3 of a honeycomb structure body 10 from the surface of the outer wall 2 of the honeycomb structure body 10 using a wheel grinder having grooves formed in its surface along a grinding direction, or a ball end mill provided with abrasive grains on its tip, to form a hole 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki HIRONAGA, Masahiro FUJIYAMA, Takahiro INOUE
  • Patent number: 7500847
    Abstract: A die for forming a honeycomb structure may realize a sophisticated formability and superior resistance to wear. The die may be provided with a die base including two surfaces, one being provided with slits of honeycomb shape, and the other being provided with back holes through which a forming material may be introduced. The die base may include: a die precursor obtained by stacking and bonding a first member (one surface of the die base) and of tungsten carbide-based super hard alloy and a second member (the other surface of the die base) and of a metal material that causes at least up to three phase transformation of martensite transformation, bainite transformation, and pearlite transformation by cooling of an austenite phase together. Tensile and compressive stresses in a mutually bonded surface of the two plate-like members are 1000 MPa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Hirofumi Hosokawa, Yoshimasa Kondo, Masayuki Hironaga
  • Publication number: 20080230590
    Abstract: A method for producing a bonded body of different materials of the present invention is a method for producing a bonded body of different materials (1), where two plate members (2 and 3) are bonded to each other, the method including: laminating two plate members (2 and 3) consisting of different materials to obtain a plate-member-laminated-body (4), and heating the plate-member-laminated-body (4). The method includes a step of heating the plate-member-laminated-body (4) while it is sandwiched between a pair of pressing dies (5). The pressing die (5) is made of a material having a heat transfer coefficient 1.5 times or more higher than that of at least one of the plate members (2 and 3) constituting the plate-member-laminated-body (4) and has a tapered part (6) between holding surface (15) which hold the plate-member-laminated-body (4) and a fixing end (16) for securing the pressing die (5). The outer diameter of the tapered part is reduced from the holding surface (15) toward the fixing end (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Takahashi, Masayuki Hironaga
  • Publication number: 20080113858
    Abstract: A die was provided for forming a honeycomb body having a structure provided with groovy slits on a front face thereof, the slits being formed by cell blocks and back holes on a back surface thereof, each hole being communicatively connected with the slit. The die is made of cemented carbide having wear resistance. The cemented carbide is formed by compacting, followed by sintering at high temperature, metal carbide powder of transition metal element series with an iron group metal binder having toughness. A connection area ratio of the back hole and the cell block is 35 to 65%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahisa Kaneko, Masayuki Nate, Masayuki Hironaga, Yuji Deguchi